WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government through February 8, extend the low-income Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and allow an open debate on key issues, including a long-term budget agreement and immigration reform, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

“Today, the Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government and move forward with its job of debating, voting, and passing long-term solutions on the budget, community health centers, disaster relief, the opioid crisis, immigration, infrastructure, and other important priorities that the Administration and Congressional Republicans have ignored for too long.

“We need a focused, long-term budget that meets the needs of working families and gives taxpayers a strong return on their investment.

“Make no mistake, this agreement doesn’t resolve the key differences we have on the issues.  But Majority Leader McConnell is now publicly committed to bringing legislation to the floor by February 8 to address the crisis President Trump manufactured when he told those who were brought to this country by their parents as children that he was ending their legal residency.  Part of the reason I voted for this proposal is we have a bipartisan coalition that can pass a bill to protect these young people on the merits.  Just as CHIP could have passed as a standalone on the merits months ago if Republicans would have allowed a vote.

“This short-term agreement gives the Senate a window of opportunity to reach bipartisan consensus on more than just immigration.  Things like the opioid crisis, emergency disaster relief, and the need to prevent devastating automatic cuts to our national defense and domestic agencies.

“I am glad Congress is getting back to work and it must begin focusing on middle-class priorities and investing in broad-based growth, instead of just prioritizing policies for the wealthy and tax cuts for multi-national corporations.  President Trump remains fixated on the stock market while middle-class workers get squeezed and don’t see their wages rising at the same pace as the President’s stock portfolio. 

“People should understand we are only in this situation because the Republicans who control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives are unable to effectively govern and are focused on unwise and incoherent policies that do little for average working Americans.  Perhaps today’s agreement will result in a realization on the part of the other side of the aisle that it is time to govern, not just play politics and reward the powerful.

“I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to set a more responsible course that takes a more balanced approach.”